A colored speed top game device

ABSTRACT

A toy top which is made to spin by a string or other means, the top being rotatable about a downwardly extending spindle and the top being made in any of various colors so as to be attractive in appearance while in motion. The top is combined with a holder in which the top is held rotatably free for rotating the top to a high speed and a paddle having a bullseye imprinted upon its upper side. The paddle is used as a surface on which to catch the top.

United States Patent w: 3,591,181

I 72] Inventor Lawrence W. Stewart .l42 l2/l9bS Pawelka 46/72 N87 Wl57l4 Kenwood Blvd.. Menomonee 11430.38! 4/I969 Phipps 46/72 5305'Primary lzxammer-- Anton U Uechsle I I PP Assistant Examiner Marvin SSisklnd [22] Filed July 25, I969 |45| Patented July 6, 19'" [S4] ACOLORED SPEED TOP GAME DEVICE 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. CL". 1.. 273/101,

/6 273/96 R ABSTRACT: A toy top which is made to spin by a string or lllll- CL other means, the top being rotatable about a downwardly exl lField ofsfll'flh 1 e tending spindle and the top being made in any ofvarious 1 2.63.69. 2 3 273/95. I0 colors so as to be attractive inappearance while in motion. The top is combined with a holder in whichthe top is held [56] ndennc Clad rotatably free for rotating the top toa high speed and a paddle UNITED STATES PATENTS having a hullaeyeimprinted upon its upper side. The paddle in 2,857. I 63 l0/l958 Lykes.46/72 used as a surface on which to catch the top.

PATENTEDJUL 6197] 3.591181 SHEET 2 (IF 2 A COLORED SPEED TOP GAME DEVICEThis invention relates generally to toy tops.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide a color speedtop that comprises a rotatable member that is brightly colored in any ofvarious colors so as to make a pleas ing visual effect while inrotation, the top being made of plastic or the like material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game deviceincluding a color speed top which may be made either solid or in theform of a shell, the shell being perforated by a series of openings soas to create a resonance chamber therewithin and thus produce an audiblewhistling sound as the openings are rotated in the air, the soundgradually changing in pitch as the top begins to slow down.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a game deviceincluding a color speed top wherein the surface thereof is of differentcolors which blend together as the top rotates so to form a secondarycolor.

Yet a further object is to provide a game device including a color speedtop that is provided with separate associated parts comprising a topholder and a motor operated contact wheel for developing a highrotational speed to the top so that the same will spin for a relativelylong period of time.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a gamedevice including a color speed top which further includes an associatepart comprising a paddle upon which the spinning top may be caught afterbeing released.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a gamedevice including a color speed top wherein the associate paddle may beused in a competitive game and wherein the upper side of the paddle isdivided into a bulls-eye for giving different score ratings according tothe skill of a player in catching the top.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a game deviceincluding a color speed top which is simple in design, inexpensive tomanufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient inoperation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of FIG.1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a companion top comprised as a shell,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a top being accelerated in rotationalspeed by associate parts comprising a holder and an electrical motoroperated wheel,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the top with an associate paddle, and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the paddle shown partly in cross sec tion asviewed on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference nu meral 10represents a color speed top according to the present invention whereinthere is a one-piece member II ofgenerally conical configuration andincluding a circular end wall 12 and a conically, downwardly taperedsidewall 13 that terminates at an apex 14 wherein there is a lower endof an externally extending spindle IS.

The outer surfaces of the top may be attractively colored in one orseveral colors so as to make a pleasing appearance during rotation. Suchcolors may be either in the form of bands or vertical strips around theconical sidewall or which may comprise any pattern upon the end wall 12.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the top 10 is made solid and mayaccordingly be made of plastic or other desirable material.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, a companion top 16 is shown to comprisea member 17 that is hollow on the inner side thereof to form an mternalcompartment 18. The top [6 likewise includes a circular upper end wall19 and a conical wall 20 tapered to an apex 21 adjacent a spindle 22.The sidewall 20 may he provided with a plurality of openings 23 therethrough communicating with the interior compartment 18, the openings 23being arranged in a gradually decreasing or enlarging arrangement so asto cause a change in pitch if one side thereof is exposed to a wind.

The conical sidewall 29 is further colored with seven different colorsarranged in vertically extending strips, as shown in FIG. 3, so that thecolors will blend together as the top rotates. Accordingly such colorsmay comprise, for example, alternate blue and yellow areas which duringrotation thus cause a combination secondary color comprising green.

Likewise, other combinations of primary colors may be used for creatingsecondary colors. Thus a red and blue will create a purple. Thus a redand yellow will produce an orange.

A concentrically positioned opening 24 on the end wall [9 may serve toreceive the spherically configurated spindle I5 of the top 10 so as toproduce a diabolo when enjoined for being spinned in a conventional andwell-known manner.

In FIG. 5, a further modified construction is shown to in clude a speedtop 25, a holder 26, and a motorized spinner 27. The top 25 has aconical depression 28 in an upper end wall 29 thereof for receiving onejaw of the holder. The jaw 30 comprises a rotatable spool 31 upon a pin52 at the end of one arm 33, the opposite end of the arm forming ahandle 34. Another arm 35 is attached pivotally free by means of a rivet36 to the arm 33, the end of the arm 35 having a pin 37 supportingrotatably free a spool 38 having a depression 39 therein for receiving aspindle shaft 10 of the top 25.

A collar 41 on the top 25 serves to frictionally bear against the end ofthe spindle 38 so that the end of the spindle 40 does not become wornout while the top is being rotated.

The motorized spinner 27 comprises an electric motor 42 powered eitherby batteries or an extension cord 43 connected to a plug 44 receivabiewithin a house outlet electric socket. The motor 42 has a motor shaft 45on which there is mounted a contact wheel 46 which may be placed againstthe conical side of the top 25 so to cause the same to be driven to arelatively high rotational speed.

The holder 26 further includes a trigger 47 on the end of arm .35, andthere is a compression coii spring 48 normally urging the arms to pivotand cause their jaws to open up and thus release the top supported therebetween.

The present color speed top includes an associated part comprising apaddle upon which the top 25 may be caught. The upper side of the paddle49 may have a bullseye 50 im printed thereupon, the bulls cye 56 beingdivided into different scoring zones by means of raised ridges 51.

In operative use, after the top 25 is brought to a high rota tionalspeed by being grasped within the holder 26 and powered by the motorizedspinner, the person releases the trigger 47 thus causing the arms topivot and jaws to part thus releasing the top so that the same a? thesame time is tossed through the air and allowed to fali to the paddle49. Depending on the person's skill. the top will land on various zonesof the bulls-eye thus providing the player a score. Thus a competitivegame may be played between several players. Thus the device may be usedas a shuttle cock tossed between several players. Various other gamesmay thus be provided.

What I now Claim is:

1. In a colored top game device, the combination of a member of conicalconfiguration including a circular top wall and a conical sidewall thatis downwardly tapered toward an apex adjacent a downwardly extendingspindle, said top wall and said sidewall being attractively colored fora pleasing appearance while spinning, said sidewall being colored invertical stripes of different colors so that the colors blend togetherduring rotation and thus form a secondary coior, said member being madeof plastic and said member being comprised of a hollow shell having aplurality of openings therethrough for producing a whistling sound assaid top rotates, said game associate part compnsmg a paddle havmg ahulls eye 1m printed upon the upper side therenfwhlch 1s dwnded mm scorezones upon whlch sand lop may be caugh!

1. In a colored top game device, the combination of a member of conicalconfiguration including a circular top wall and a conical sidewall thatis downwardly tapered toward an apex adjacent a downwardly extendingspindle, said top wall and said sidewall being attractively colored fora pleasing appearance while spinning, said sidewall being colored invertical stripes of different colors so that the colors blend togetherduring rotation and thus form a secondary color, said member being madeof plastic and said member being comprised of a hollow shell having aplurality of openings therethrough for producing a whistling sound assaid top rotates, said game device including associate separate partscomprising a holder within which said top is held rotatably free forrotating said top to a relatively high speed, said game device includingan associate part comprising a paddle having a bulls-eye imprinted uponthe upper side thereof which is divided into score zones upon which saidtop may be caught.